Olivier Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur

23.12.2024

19.00 - 20.15

Tampere Cathedral, Tuomiokirkonkatu 3b, 33100 Tampere

Olivier Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur (The Birth of the Savior): nine meditations for organ. Esa Toivola, organ.

Olivier Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur (The Birth of the Savior): nine meditations for organ. Esa Toivola, organ

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was one of the most significant composers of the 20th century. He was professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire and organist of the Sainte-Trinité Church for no less than 61 years.

Messiaen's tonal language is very exceptional and was based on the composer's strong theoretical thinking, the study of oriental scales and rhythms, and birdsong. Christian mysticism and meditation are also strongly present.

Messiaen's Christmas organ suite La Nativité du Seigneur, composed in 1935, contains nine movements of very different lengths. The characters of the Christmas scene, such as the Virgin Mary, the shepherds and the angels, get their own description, and in the last part, the whole theology of Christmas is brought together. The piece ends with the famous toccata.

Messiaen has attached a motto to each part of the Bible. The texts are read in both French and Finnish.

Olivier Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur
Tampere Cathedral on December 23, 2024 at 7 p.m
Esa Toivola, organ
Elisa af Hällström, reader
Free entry
Dates
23.12.2024
Time
19.00 - 20.15
Location
Tampere Cathedral, Tuomiokirkonkatu 3b, 33100 Tampere
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